Raymond Kalla

Raymond Kalla
Personal information
Full nameRaymond Koned Kalla Nkongo
Date of birth(1975-04-22) 22 April 1975 (age 39)
Place of birthDouala, Cameroon
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1993–1995Canon Yaoundé
1995–1998Panachaiki71(3)
1998–2002Extremadura121(1)
2002–2005Bochum77(6)
2005–2006Sivasspor26(0)
2006–2008Union Douala
National team
1994–2006Cameroon63(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Raymond Koned Kalla Nkongo (born 22 April 1975), known as Kalla, is a Cameroonian retired footballer who played as a central defender.

His main asset was a powerful physique,[1] and he had already been picked by the Cameroonian national team for three World Cups – and started – in his mid-20's.

During 15 years as a professional, Kalla played in five different countries with six different clubs.

Club career

Kalla was born in Douala. After starting professionally at Canon Sportif de Yaoundé, he went on to play in four different countries: first Panachaiki F.C. in Greece then Spain's CF Extremadura, where he competed in both major divisions.

In 2002, after Extremadura dropped another category to the third level, Kalla signed with VfL Bochum in Germany[2]– he scored five times in his last season, second-best in the squad – but the club was relegated from the Bundesliga. He also received a three-match ban for anti-doping rules breaching, in late 2003.[3]

Subsequently Kalla joined Turkish side Sivasspor for the 2005–06 campaign, returning home for two final years at Union Douala and retiring at age 33.

International career

Kalla gained 63 caps for Cameroon, and was a participant at three consecutive FIFA World Cups: 1994, 1998 and 2002. In the first he (aged 19) played all the matches and minutes, often being partnered by another youngster, Rigobert Song (18), in an eventual group stage exit.

After the 2002 World Cup, Kalla announced to retire from the national team due to conflicts with the Federation structure, which he accused of poor organization,[4] but eventually changed his mind.[5]

Initially summoned for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Kalla was forced to withdraw due to injury,[6] and retired for the second and definitive time.

References

  1. Jump up ^ "Raymond Kalla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 July 2012. 
  2. Jump up ^ "Kalla goes to Germany". BBC Sport. 26 June 2002. Retrieved 25 February 2012. 
  3. Jump up ^ "Kalla gets three game bany". BBC Sport. 15 December 2003. Retrieved 25 February 2012. 
  4. Jump up ^ "Cameroon star Kalla retiresy". BBC Sport. 17 September 2002. Retrieved 25 February 2012. 
  5. Jump up ^ "Kalla hints at Cameroon returny". BBC Sport. 13 January 2003. Retrieved 25 February 2012. 
  6. Jump up ^ "Kalla pulls out of Cup of Nationsy". BBC Sport. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2012. 

External links

Cameroon squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup
Cameroon squad – 1998 African Cup of Nations
Cameroon squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup
Cameroon squad – 2000 Africa Cup of Nations Winners (3rd Title)
Cameroon squad – 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup
Cameroon squad – 2002 African Cup of Nations Winners (4th Title)
Cameroon squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup

Source :
sepakbola.biz
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